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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

W. E. CUMMINGS 817 T. P. COOMBS.

MAUHINE FOR MOLDING AND GOMPRESSING HEEL$FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Patented Oct. 16, 1888.

Wiliqessea- Mae! w a MW I T 5 r5 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. E. CUMMINGS & T. P. GOOMBS.

MACHINE FOR MOLDING AND GOMPRESSING HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES,

N0. 391,124. Patented Oct. 16, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILBUR- E. CUMMINGS AND THOMAS P. COOMBS, OF \VOBURN, MASSAOHU- SETTS; SAID GOOWBS ASSIGNOR TO SAID CUMMINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,124, dated October 16, 1888.

Application filed July 19, 1888.

To (1% whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILBUR E. CUMMINGS and THOMAS P. COOMBS, both of Woburn, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Molding and Compressing Heels for Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the drawings accompanying, and forming a part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of the machine, showing the parts in position to receive a heelblank and partially broken away for greater clearness in showing the position and construction of the parts. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the dies and their operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a front view of the upper part ofthe machine, showing the dies closed on a heel and partially broken away for greater clearness. Fig. 5 is a detail showing a double heel-blank and dies for molding same. Fig. 6 is a perspective of a heel-blank, and Fig. 7 is a similar view of a molded heel.

The object of our invention is the construction of an improved machine for molding or compressing heel blanks which have been built up from layers of leather or similar ma terial to the shape or substantially to the shape required for use in a boot or shoe; and it consists in the employment, in a heel-compressing mechanism,ofa pair of laterally-moving dies for molding the sides and back of the heel, each die having a concavity corresponding in shape to the shape of half a heel, as also ofavertically-acting die for molding the top of the heel to form the heel seat, mechanism for placing the heel-blank accuratelyin the dies, as also raising it therefrom after it is molded, and mechanism for operating the dies, all as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

A. heel-blank such as is shown in Fig. 6 is constructed of layers of leather which are cut in two sizes, the upper portion of the blank there shown being built up of larger pieces than the lower portion,in order that the blank may roughly approximate to the shape which is desired in the finished heel. These layers are usually cemented together; but the manner in which the blank is constructed or the (No model.)

precise shape of the blank is not material to our present invention. To shape the sides and top of the heel-blank by compression is not only a simple and efficient method of preparing the heel, but it adds to its efficiency and durability by densifying the material of which it is composed.

The frame of the machine is shown at A, and consists of two side pieces, of the shape shown, Fig. 2, secured together by cross-rods. In the rear of the frame the driving-shaft B is journaled, and is provided with a belt-pulley, G, which, by means of a friction device or clutch of common construction, operated by a foottreadle, D, may be made fast or loose on the shaft, thus operating or stopping the machine. The main shaft B is provided with a pinion, a, which meshes witha gear, b, fast on a crankshaft, E, which is also journaled in the frame of the machine, as shown. A rod or pitman, d, connects the crank-shaft E with two pairs of toggles,f, (see Fig. 1,) the lower toggle of each pair being pivoted at e between lugs on the yoke F, and the upper toggles being pivoted at g to similar lugs on the cross-head G. The cross-head G is arranged to move vertically on the vertical rods H,which pass through holes at either end of the cross-head, and it will be clear that as the crank-shaft E revolves, straightening the toggles f, the cross-head G will be raised. On top of the crosshead G is set the bed-piece h, cut away at either end, as shown, Fig. 3, to receive the uprights H. On this bed-piece are set blocks j, which are so cured thereto by bolts 7:, which pass through slots in the blocks to allow of the adj nstment thereof. The die-blocksl are similarly mounted near the middle of the bed-piece h, (see Fig. 3,) and are connected with the blocks j by toggles m. \Vhen the toggles are straight ened, the dies Z are caused to approach each other and to compress the blank which may be interposed between them. By moving the adjusting-screws n, which pass through the upturned ends of the bed-piece h and bear against the toggle-blocks j, the pressure of the dies 1 on the heel-blank may be increased or diminished. To the top of the rods Ha yoke,

Below J, is secured, the rods passing up through the ends of the yoke and having above the same screw-nuts to hold the yoke in place.

under side of the yoke J is set a die, 1', which is provided with a shank, s, which passes up through the yoke, and is secured by means of a nut at its upper end. The die r has a convex face corresponding to the concavity or heel-seat desired in the heel, and is so placed as to bear on the top ofthe heel when the machine is being used. On either side of the die r a stop bolt or projection, t, is screwed into the yoke J, and thus may be adjusted, as desired. These projections t bear on the center of the toggles m, and as the cross-headG rises act to straighten the toggles and force the heeldics together.

For the purpose of raising the toggles as the cross-head G moves downward, we place underneath them in the bed h a short shaft, a, to which there is rigidly secured at its inner end an arm, I), which, as the shaft a is turned,- comes in contact with the under side of the toggles and forces themup, thus separating the heel dies. On the outer end of the shafts a cranks d are secured, the free ends of which are offset or are provided with pins which project through the slots e in the upright pieces f. (See Fig. 1.) The pieces f are rigidly secured at their lower endsto a cross-piece,K, which is fast at either end to the frame of the machine. (See Fig. 2.) By this arrangement, asthe cross-head G moves up, the cranks d will turn the shafts a, and throw down the short arms 12, allowing the toggles to be straightened, while as the eross-head moves down,.the' movement will be reversed, and the arms b will force the toggles up, separating the heel-dies. By means of asimilar device, consisting of the slotted upright piece 9, also fast to the stationary cross-piece K, a crank, h, shaft j, mounted in the bedpiece h, and a short arm, is, the block Z, on which the heel rests While being molded, is forced up when the machine is open, thus raising the heel from the dies, so that it may be readily taken out by the operator and another blank easily inserted in its place; The block Z has a downwardly-projecting shank, which passes through a hole in the bed-piece h, (see Figs. 1 and 4,) and comes in contact with the arm k, which operates, as above described, to raise the heelblock Z when the cross-head G is moving downward after a heel has been molded.

As will be clear, theprecise shape of the heel-dies Z is not material, and when desired they may be of the shape shown, Fig. 5, and thus adapted to mold and compress a double blank,whichis afterward cut in two,producing I two heels.

The operation of our machine is as follows: The parts being in the position shown, Fig. 1, a blank is laid on the block Z, and the cross-head G moves upwardly, lowering the short arms k and allowing the block'Z to drop into its recess in the bed h,carrying the heel-blank down between the dies. The toggles m then strike the projections 15 and the heel-dies are. closed on the blank, molding it to shape. The heelblank then comes in contact With the die T, which molds the heel-seat. then descends, theshort arms I) raise the toggles m, separating the dies, and the arm It raises the block Z, raising the heel, which may then be removed by the operator, another heel blank inserted, and the operation repeated.

It will be observed that the construction of the machine is such that there is little or no strain on the frame parts proper, the lateral strain being borne by the ends of the bedpiece h, and the vertical strain by the yokcs F J and the vertical rods H.

What we claim is 1. In a heel-molding machine,the combination, with two movable dies having a parallel sliding movement toward and from each other and each of proper shape to form half of a heel, of a convex die, as r, for molding the heel-seat, substantially as set forth.

2. In a heel-molding machine, the combination,with the heel-molding dies Z, arranged to have a parallel sliding movement toward and from each other, of a bed-piece or support,as h, by which the said dies are sustained and on which they move, the adjusting-blocks j, attached to the said bed-piece, and the toggles m, connecting the said dies with the said adjustingblocks, substantially as set forth.

3. In a heel-molding machine, the combination,with the heel-molding dies Z, arranged to slide toward and from each other, of the bedpiece h,by which the said dies are sustained and on which they move, the toggles m, mounted on the said bed-piece and connected with the said dies to operate the same, and the projections t, arranged to engage the said toggles to straighten them out, and thus force the said dies toward each other,substantially as set forth.

4. In a heel-molding machine, the combination, with the heel-molding dies arranged to slide toward and from each other and the bedpiece or support on which the said dies are mounted, of the shafts a, journaled in said bed-piece or support and provided with arms 12, arranged to engage the said toggles to lift or double up the latter, and with cranks d, by which said shafts may be operated,and the stationary slotted uprights f, arranged to engage and operate the said cranks,substantially as set forth.

5. In aheel-molding machine, the combination, with the heel-molding dies Z, arranged to slide toward and from each other and the bedpiece or support on which the said dies are mounted, of the shaft j, journaled in the said bed-piece or support and provided with the arm and the crank h,the slotted upright 9, arranged to engage and operate the said crank, and the heel-block Z, arranged to be lifted by the said arm k to raise the heel from the dies The cross-head G IYO after it has been molded, substantially as set forth.

6. In a heel-molding machine, the combination, with the moving cross-head G and the dies Z, vertically movable therewith.of the toggles for sliding said dies toward and from each other, the stationary yoke or cross-head J above the said dies,and the die 1-,suslained by the said stationary cross head,snbstant ially as set forth.

7. In aheel-molding machine, the combination, with a moving cross-head, as G, and the dies Z, vertically movable therewith and arranged to slide toward and from each other,of the rods H,the stationary cross-heads or yokcs Jand F, and the die 1, mounted on the said cross-head or yoke J, and arranged centrally above the space between the said dies Z, so as E,with which the said togglesf are connected, 30

substantially, as set forth.

WILBUR E. CUMMINGS. THOMAS P. COOMBS. \Vitnesses:

WM. A. MAQLEoD, ROBERT WALLAoE. 

